Portraits 2010

A few weeks ago, we were able to have a good friend take some family portraits of us. They were in town for an HSC football game and to visit their old stomping grounds. They graciously took some time the morning they left to get a few shots in. We are very thankful for their talent and friendship:) Here are some of our favorite shots.

The girls not sure of this whole early morning smile fest;)

 the twins

Kendall checking Alley's teeth out...Alley's first dental exam;)

this was just too sweet! I love these two!!

Almost all of us are smiling..amazingly, our smiley girl, Kendall, was very stubborn with her smiles! Go figure;)

making faces

sleepy eyes

sweet older sis

cheesy grin

which pine cone...this one or that one?

 

sisterly love and squeezes

so much sugar to go around

this picture just captures it all...Kendall is always finding something to put in her mouth and Alley is always trying to torture Kendall

look at me! I'm a big girl:)

no I will not look at you...the grass is more interesting

so serious

peek-a-boo

no, mom, I was not eating dirt...

really mom, don't you trust me?!

she looks like she's got something up her sleeve!

playing with the grass

Kendall trying to steal the dirt and grass from Alley...yes, it's a daily occurrence

sweet kisses for sissy...even if she steals all my toys

We greatly appreciate Courtney Turlington's talent and her willingness to capture our

Happy Thanksgiving

I love Thanksgiving, not just because it's a day that I get to eat a huge amount of food, but because it's a day that reminds me of all that I've been given and am thankful for. There is some much to be thankful for. My girls, oh how I can't imagine life without them. They brighten my day, make me laugh uncontrollably, feel deeply loved and seem to also make me so incredibly frustrated;) My husband, for the sacrifices he makes for our family, his giving spirit, his "can-do" attitude, his devotion, and I could go on and on! There is so much to be thankful for!!

Today we celebrated Thanksgiving at our house. I volunteered to cook the turkey...yikes! I got a recipe and went for it...I think everyone was just as relieved as I was that it turned out quite yummy!! Everyone contributed yummy dishes and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. 

Yeah, I'm thankful for turkey:)!!

 thirsty, thirsty

mom, I'm trying to eat here...

 The girls table:)

We invited our close friends, the Sterling family, to join us for the feast. Alley was so excited to have her "friends" join us for the day. They brought some delicious desserts!! 

The guys "table"

They watched football while eating...I think they were very happy about the seating arrangements;)

 Our attempt at a family photo...this was as good as we could get...you should see the other photos!! Yikes!

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!!!!

The big 3!

Time sure does seem to fly by. Is she really 3 years old??! Yesterday we celebrated Alley turning 3. What a wild, crazy, fun day we all had. It just so happened that Alley's birthday collided with Andy's BIGGEST football game of the year...THE game...Macon vs. HSC...extreme rivals...we had to win. Of course, to an almost 3 year old, the game meant nothing, except scary tigers and boys;)

Before Andy left for work, we had our own celebration. We opened presents and had birthday doughnuts:) Yummy! Alley thoroughly enjoyed opening her gifts and played with them all morning.

Here is the big playhouse tent she got from G'maw and Jim...it was love at first sight;)

 hanging out in the playhouse sporting her new rain boots, which we got her...they are huge on her feet (we really wanted her to have a pair she could wear through the spring....I just didn't realize how huge they'd be!!)

 playing in the play room. The adorable shirt was given to her by Mimi and Papa. A good friend of mine from high school makes these kinds of shirts...they are adorable!!!

 playing hopscotch 

 Alley invited Kendall to play in her playhouse...what a sweet big sister;)

My parents came in for the day and graciously watched the girls so I could go to the game. I frantically threw everything together in the morning for the party that evening, praying the BBQ would be done in time for all our guests when they arrived. The game started off rough, but HSC pulled through and beat Macon (whew!) now on to celebrate!

Here are Mimi and Papa with their McPherson grandkids...these girls sure do love their Mim and Papa!!

 opening her new pots and pans from the pacific coast Alleys....oh what a perfect gift for Alley!!!! She is in love;)

 playing away...she's making cupcakes for her and Ava for the party;)

 Kendall enjoying the celebration

 Alley so excited about the doll bookshelf...great job Mimi:)

 putting all her "important" toys in the shelf...what??!!! She has some seriously random stuff in there...

 Granny reading to Alley

 Fall fun!!! Kendall loves the leaves:)

Already acting 3;) camera? What camera?

 hey-hey!

This year the theme was Alley-gators:) I couldn't resist! 

I couldn't find cupcake decorating ideas for alligators anywhere, so I made up my own alligator:) I think it turned out pretty well (minus the melting frosting!)

 oh my! Coloring!! She's in heaven

 While I was decorating her cupcakes on Friday, Alley was decorating her own. I think she went through a whole container of sprinkles! She decided she wanted to make the cupcake that the candle would go on for her party. She was soooo excited about making it.

Here she is eating "her cupcake"

 hilarious...both making the same faces while eating:)

 don't let Ava fool you...she already had her own cupcake;) So cute!

It was a fun day for all!! Happy birthday to my big,sweet girl!!! We love you!!!